Overview for Food Preparation Workers
Food preparation workers perform routine, repetitive tasks under the direction of chefs and cooks. These workers ready the ingredients for complex dishes by slicing and dicing vegetables, and composing salads and cold items. They weigh and measure ingredients, go after pots and pans, and stir and strain soups and sauces. Food preparation workers may cut and grind meats, poultry, and seafood in preparation for cooking. They also clean work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, and silverware.

Salary Expectations for Food Preparation Workers
Earnings of food preparation workers vary greatly by region and the type of employer. Median annual earnings of food preparation workers were $17,410 in May 2006 and ranged from less than $13,190 to over $25,940.

Employment Situation
There were 902,000 million food preparation workers in the U.S. in 2006. Job opportunities for food preparation workers are expected to be plentiful because of the continued growth and expansion of food services outlets, resulting in average employment growth, and because of the large numbers of workers who leave these occupations and need to be replaced. Employment of food preparation workers is expected to increase by 11 percent over the 2006-16 decade, or about as fast as the average for all occupations. This occupation will have among the largest numbers of new jobs - about 351,000 - over that period.

Education Outlook
On-the-job training is most common for fast-food cooks, short-order cooks, and food preparation workers. Vocational training programs are available to many high school students, but advanced positions usually require training after high school. Experience, an ability to develop and enhance cooking skills, and a strong desire to cook are the most common requirements for advancement. Opportunities exist for advancement above and beyond as well.

Related Information
- Find Culinary Schools near you
- All advertised food preparation jobs